Cup dispenser



April 8, 194L 1v w, CARLSON 2.237.411

. cur DISPENSER Filed June 18, 1938 2 Sheecshvlt 1 April 8k, 194L 1. w. CARLSON CUP 'DISPENSER Filed June 18; 1938 2 sheets-sheet- 2 lJNVENTOR. Joh/2 Wflofz.

v l ATTORNEY.

dual multiple dispenser taken through Y-Y of Figure i with the lower parts in place;

Figure 6 is a sectional view with parts broken away showing one of the dispensers with the lowermost cup of a stack of cups supported on one of the dispensing elements before the cup is brought into a position ready for discharge;

Figure 'l shows a section of the dispenser with parts broken away and with the lowermost cup of a stack in what may be termed the discharging position or the position in which the cup is ready for discharge.

As shown in Figure l, a preferred embodiment of this invention consists of a dual dispenser capable of dispensing cups alternately from two stacks or columns thereof. As shown, two dispensers A and B are arranged side by side. These dispensers are provided with guideways 2, 2 for the two columns of nested cups. Disposed within said guideways are rotatable dispensing devices or dispensing elements 4, 6 and 8 and 4', 6 and 6', respectively. The cup or cups to be dispensed, III and I' are provided with flanged or beaded rims I2 and I2', respectively. Dispenser B is operated by an actuating lever I4 which is connected to arm f6 of dispenser B by a bolt, rivet l or other suitable means I6. `Any movement of arm I6 of dispenser B is automatically imparted to dispenser A by means of gear segments 2o which mesh with gear segments 22 of dispenser A.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that guideways 2 and 2' of dispensers A and B, respectively, each comprise two parts, an upper partand a lower part. In dispenserA, upper part 24 lis connected with lower part 26 through flanged members 28 and 30, member26 being integral with upper part 24 and member 36 being integral with lower part 26. Upper part 24 and lower part 26 are preferably held together by means of bolts or screws 32. Dispenser B similarly has an upper part 24' connected to a lower part 26', the upper part being provided with flange 28' and the lower part with a flange 50', and the connection being made by means of bolts 4or screws 32'. The operating member foreach dispenser, that is, the member which operates dispensing elements 4, 6 and 8 and 4', 6' and 8', is a ring member 34 in dispenser A and ring member 34' in dispenser B. In dispenser A, ring member 34 is disposed between flanged elements 28 and 30. In dispenser B, ring member, 34' is disposed between flanged elements 26' and 30'. l

In Figure 3. it will be observed that each of the dispensing elements 4, 6 and 8 ands', 6' and 8' Ihas a segmental portion a removed from the top thereof and another segmental portion `b removed from the bottom or lower part theremember 34 and limit the motion thereof.

pensing elements 4', 6 and 8' are in the same position with respect to each other at al1 times.

lAs a cup is discharged the curved or worm-like vsurface e and surface c is such that surface e lies intermediately between the flanges of the cups. Counterclockwise motion of the dispensing element then causes a cup to drop from surface e to surface c. Each dispensing element is provided with a pinion gear g, an upper pivot h and a lower pivot z', the latter being shown in Figures 6 and '7. Point 1c is preferably even with the wall of the guideway when maximum counterclockwise rotation has been reached.

In Figure 4, the construction and arrangement of the two dispensers is shown with lower members 26 and 26' removed. In other words, Figure 4 illustrates the appearance of the operating mechanism looking from the bottom thereof. As illustrated, each of the operating members 34 and 34' is provided with three channels 36, 38 and 4B and 35', 38' and 40', respectively. In alignment with channels 36, 38 and 40 are threaded recesses 42, 44 and 46 in flange 28 of upper guideway member 24. These ,recesses are adapted to receive screws 32 (Figure 2) which not only serve to hold together members 24 and 26 of dispenser A but also serve to guide ring In dispenser A a ridge' or collar 48 is provided which may also serve to guide ring member 34. and which additionally tends to keep dirt out of the operating mechanism. Similarly, in dispenser B, channel portions 86', 38' and 40' are in alignment with threaded recesses 42', 44' and 46', respectively. These recesses are adapted to receive screws 32 (Figure 2) which serve to hold together upper and lower parts 24 and 26', respectively, of dispenser B and likewise limit the motion and act asguiding elements for operating member 34'. Dispenser B is provided with a ridge or collar 48' which depends from upper of and intersecting with vsegmental portion a.

is at in order not to disturbthe vertical alignment ofthe cups in the stack. Just before the lowermost cup of the stack is discharged it rests upon flat segmental surface c. As each dispensing element is moved clockwise, supporting surface c is removed from beneath the cup and the position of the ldispensing element-changes until the cup is entirely within the area formed by cut out portion b, at which point it no longer vhas any supporting surface and will drop from the dispenser. It will be understood, ofcourse, that dispensing elements 4, 6 and 6 are so arranged as to bein the same position kwith respect to each other at all times. Likewise diS- member 24' and serves to keep dirt out of the operating mechanism and also acts as an additional guide for ring member 34',

In dispenser A, lring member 34 is provided with gear segmentsiill, 62 and 54. Similarly, in dispenser B, ring member 34 is provided with gear segments 56', 52 and 54'. Gear segments .50, .54 and 52 are adapted to mesh with pinion gears 56, 58 and 60fof dispensing elements 4, 6 and 8,-respectively. Similarly, in dispenser B, gear segments 52', 50' and 54' are adapted to mesh with pinion gears 5 6', 58' and 60' of dispensing elements 4', 6' and', respectively. In Figure 5, the multiple dispenser is illustrated in cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y of Figure 4. As shown in Figure 5, the guideways 2 and 2' of dispensers A and B, respectively, preferably converge at points 62 and .62', approximately at flanged portions 28 and 28that is, just before the cups are to be dispensed. This permits a substantial space around the upper portion of the stack of cups thereby facilitating refilling oi the dispensers but restricts the lateral motion ofthe cups when they are about to be dispensed. Just after the cups are dispensed, a diverging portion or area 64 -and 64' is provided in dispensers A and B, respectively, thus permitting cups which have been discharged ordissensed irom thebottom of the stack to i'all freely onto a platform or into a holder.

The means for holding the dispensers A and B in the relationship shown in Figures 1, 2, 4' and 5 is conventional. Quite commonly these dispensers are mounted on some portion of a coin operated liquid vending machine, and each is fastened in proper relationship to the other upon some frame member of the vending machine. Under some circumstances, the dispenser A may be fastened to dispenser B by a frame member and then either A or B will be fastened to the dispensing mechanism. A wide'variety of conventional means are available for maintaining the two dispensers in the relationship shown in the drawings. y

As illustrated in Figure 5, the dispensing elements in dispensers A and B are so arranged as to permit loading or bringing cups into discharge position in dispenser B whilef'c'ups are being discharged from dispenser A. Thus, in the position of the dispensing elements in Figure 5, the lowermost cup 'oi the stack is just being dis-i charged in dispenser 'A while in dispenser B a cup has just been discharged, and the lowerinost cup of the stack is resting"upon the top" surface of the dispensing elements. Thisis'more clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7..

In considering Figures 6 and 7 in conjunction with Figure 3, it will be seen that in Figure 6 the lowermost cup of the stack is resting'upon the top surface e of the dispensing elements. Hence, it will require a counter-clockwise motion of the dispensing element to bring said cup into discharge position on lower surface c; In Figure 7 the dispensing element has been-rotated ap, proximately 180 with the result that the lower.-4

most cup oi the stack has dropped from ythe top supporting surface e into segmental cut out portion o and is now resting upon lower surface c. Each dispensing element rotates freely on pivots h and i, the former being seated in the upper flanged portion oi the dispensers and the latter in the lower hanged portion. As illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and "7, only a small portion of each dispensing element projects into Vguideways 2 and i' through rectangular openings i in said guideways. for dirtto clog the dispensing mechanism or render it unsanitary. i

The operation of the above described multiple dispenser unit is as follows. Columns or stacks of nested cups are inserted in the guideways 2 and i' of dispensers A and B, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 5. The bottoms of the lowermost cupsl are ordinarily projected out o! the dispensers, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. The cups are then ready to be dispensed. The dispensing operation is carried out by moving actuating arm i4 in the direction of the arrows, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. Ordinarily to dispense a cup from the bottom of the stock in either dispenser A alone or dispenser B alone, a forward and a reverse movement of actuating arm I4 would be required. Dispenserelements 4, i and l and 4', t and 8' in dispensers A and B, respectively, are lso arranged, however, that cups are alternately and successively dispensed, one cup being dispensed from one dispenser on the forward movement of actuating arm i4 and another being dispensed from the other dispenser on the reverse movement of said actuating arm'. A

As will be seen by reference to Figure 4, any

Hence, there is very little chance` It Actuation of arm I4 is preferably eiected by means of a coin controlled mechanism opmovement of actuating means I4 is imparted to erating in conjunction with a motor or other suitable operating means, not shown.

When ring member 34' is moved dispensing elements 4', i and l' are rotated by engagement of gear segments 5U', 52' and 54' with pinion gears 56', 58 and 60'. As ring member 34' is rotated it is guided by screws 32 (Figure 2) which are seated in recesses 42', 44 and 46' (Figure 4). The guiding of ring member 34' is effected by means of grooves or channels 36', 3l' and 40'. Additionally, a depending ange or ridge 48 integrally associated with upper member 24' of dispenser B serves to hold ring member 34' in place. Because of said flange 48',v ring member 34 is not visible from the interior of the dispenser, although in the construction shown it can readily be seen from the exterior thereof. Screws 32', in conjunction with grooves or slots,'36', 38' and 40', also serve to limit the motion of ring member 34'. A

In. addition to rotating dispensing elements 4', 6' and 8', ring member 34 is also connected to and imparts movement to ring member 34 of dispenser A, said connection being effected by means of gear teeth 20 integrally associated with the exterior oi member 34' and gear teeth` 22 integrally associated with the exterior oi ring member 34. The movement imparted to member 34 through gear segments 20 and 22 causes a rotation of dispensing elements 4, 6 and 8 in dispenser A in a manner similar to that of dispenser B. Thus, ring member 34 is provided with grooves or slots 36, 33 and 40 which, in conjunction with screws 32 (Figure 2), seated in threaded holes 42, 44 and 46 (Figure 4), serve to guide and limit the motion of member 34. Dispensing elements 4, 6 and 8 are rotated by coaction between gear segments 5D, 52 and. 54 and pinions 56, 5l and B0.

As previously indicated, the arrangement of the dispensing devices in dispensers A and B is such that a cup ls discharged from one dispenser or the other every time actuating means I4 is moved in a forward or reverse direction. It will readily be seen that when ring member 34 of dispenser B is moving counterclockwise, ring member 34 of dispenser A is moving clockwise soA that theoperation of the two dispensers is reversed with respect to each other. Since each dispenser haswhat may be called a loading and a discharging movement, it will be readily ap parent that one dispenser is being loaded while the other is being discharged. This loading and discharging movement can best be understood by reference to Figures 3, 6 and 7.

In Figure 7 the lowermost cup of a stack is shown in loaded position, that is, in the position in which it is ready to be discharged. When a cup is in this position the point k of each dispensing element is approximately in the same plane with the wall of the cup guideway. The.

same is true with respect to the point f of each operating member 34 in dispenser A. lWhen in loaded position the lowermost cup of the stack is is positively discharged. In the meantime, during clockwise rotation of each dispensing element (Figure 3) the point f of upper surface e becomes engaged beneath the beaded rim of"the cup which is directly above the cup being discharged, and as rotation in a clockwise direction is continued, the bead of said cup which is now,

the lowermost cup of the stack becomes fully supported by surface e of each dispensing element, as shown in Figure 6. At this point clockwise motion of each dispensing element is stopped, this being eiected by screws 32 and 32' in dispensers A and B, respectively, striking the ends of slots 36, 38 and 40 in dispenser A and 36', 38 and 40 in dispenser B (Figure 4). It will be apparent that the desired amount of rotation for each dispensing element may be readily regulated by the size of said slots.l

When the limit of clockwise rotation for each dispensing element has been reached, as previously described, and as shown in Figure 6, `each.

element is 4then moved counterclockwise and as such counterclockwise movement takes place, the lowermost cup drops from surface e (Figure 3) into segmental recess a and then rests on surface c in loaded position ready for discharge. Since ring members 34 and' 34 rotate in opposite directions, it will readily be seen that this new and improved type of dispenser affords an excellent and satisfactory meansv for alternately and successively dispensing cups from two stacks thereof. Furthermore, the actuating arm ii is connected only to one of the dispensers, thus simplifying the construction and reducing the number of moving parts. No attempt has been guideways, and means connecting the operating means of one set of dispensing devices with the operating means of another whereby movement of one of said operating means is imparted to another but in an opposite direction. l

3. A multiple dispenser for stacks of articles comprising, in combination, a plurality of guideways for the articles, dispensing devices supported by said guideways, operating means for said dispensing devices supported by each of said guideways, connecting means between said operating means whereby movement of one operating means is imparted to the other, said connecting means comprising exterior gear teeth on said operating means, and independent actuating lmeans connected with only one of said operating means.

4. A multiple dispenser for stacks of articles comprising, in combination, a plurality of guideways for the articles, a plurality of rotatable dispensing devices disposed circumferentially around each ofy said guideways, operating means for said dispensing devices comprising a ring member around each of said guideways and means connecting a ring member of one guideway with the ring member of another guideway whereby movement of one ring member is imparted to another ring member.

.5. A multiple dispenser for stacks of articles comprising, in combination, a; plurality of guide- Waysv for the articles, rotatable dispensing devices disposed around each of said guideways, an operating ring member for said dispensing devices disposed around each of said guideways, said made to describe in detail varioustypes of motors and coin controlled mechanisms which could be used to operate actuating arm I4, but it will be apparent that the fewer levers required to actuate the cup dispensing mechanisms, the simpler will be the coin controlled mechanism or other mechanism required.

It will be understood that variations may be made in the dispensers described without departing from the invention. For instance, ridges or flanges 48 and 48 may be omitted. Other modications may be made which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1,'A multiple dispenser for stacks of articles comprising, incombination, a plurality of guideways for said articles, dispensing devices supported by each of said guideways, `operating means for said dispensing devices supported by each of said guideways, and means comprising gear teeth connecting said operating means and adapted to impart any movement of one of said operating means to a connected operating means. 2. -A multiple dispenser for stacks of articles comprising, in combination, a plurality of guideways for the articles, dispensing devices disposed around each of said guideways, operating means for said devices disposed around each of said dispensing devices including means adapted to bring the lowermost member of the stacks of articles in said guideways into discharge position when the operating ringmember associated with said guideway is movedin one direction and to discharge said article when said ring member is moved in an opposite direction, connecting means between said ring operating members, and actuating means connected with one of said operat ing members, said dispensing devices in each guideway being disposed inA such relationship that articles are dispensed alternately and -successively from said guideways upon each movement of the actuating member.

6. In a dispenser for a stack of nested articles, the combination of, a guideway for the articles,

dispensing devices disposed around said guideway, a ring member around said guideway for operating said dispensing devices, gear teeth eX- teriorly disposed on said ring member, and means connected with the gear teeth for operating the ring member.

7. In a dispenser for a stack of nested articles, the combination of, a guideway for the articles, said guideway consistingof an upper part and a lower part, dispensing devices disposed around said guideway, a ring member yaround said guideway for operating said dispensing devices. and means interiorly disposed within said ring member adapted to limit the movement thereof, said means also serving as means for connecting the upper and lower parts of said guideway.

8. A multi-ple dispenser for a plurality of stacks of nested articles comprising, in combination, a plurality of guideways for the articles, said guideways each consisting of an upper and a lower part, a plurality of rotatable dispensing devices disposed around each of said guideways approximately at the junctures of the upper and lower parts thereof, va converging area immediately above said dispensing devices in the upper part of each of said guideways, adiverging area iin-v mediately below said dispensing kdevices in the lower parts of said guideways, a ring operating member for saidgdispenslng devices disposed around each of said guldeways between the up-l per and lower parts thereof, and connecting means between said operating members whereby any movement lof one of said operating members is limparted to another Voperatingmember but in a reverse direction.

ELA multiple dispenser for a stack of nested articles comprising two dispensers, each'havinga ,y

guideway adapted to hold a stack of nested artic cles, said guideway being made up of two separable flanged parts comprising an upper part and lower part, three rotatable substantially circular dispensing elements L around each ,guideway approximately at the juncture of the upper part and the lower par-t lbetween the flanges thereof, each of said dispens. ing elements partially projecting into the guideway, each of said elements having a minor segsymmetrically disposed to mesh with each other whereby `movement of one of said ring members is imparted directly but in a reverse direction to the other 9i said rin'g members.

10. A cup dispenser of the character described,

comprising, in combination, a dispensing piece composed of an upper member and a lower mem/- ber, said upper member having a cylindrical poru tion and na solid, enlarged flange portion formed integrally with the cylindrical portion, said ilange portion being provided with cylindrically shaped recesses receiving cup dispensing elements, a plu rality of cup dispensing elements engaging within said recesses and being provided with shafts `Ieat- ',ing within apertures formedl in .the bottom of said recesses, said lower member cooperating with the ment removed from a top portion thereof -to form la flat cup 'supporting portion about halfway of thedispensing element, and said ring member being disposed between the upper and lower parts of -the guideway and adapted to move freely around the guideway to rotate said dispensing elements a predetermined amount, three guide slots interiorly disposed in each of said ring members inspaces between the, gear segments,

' guide members in said slots comprising screws adapted to hold together the upper and lower parts of each guideway, saidguide members being also adapted to limit the -movement of each of said ring members, and Vgear teeth outwardly dis,

ange portion of the upper member and having cooperating apertures receiving theopposite extremities of the cup dispensing unit shafts, one of said upper and lower members being recessed to receive an annular ring provided with teeth to actuate the cup dispensing units.,

11. In a dispenser for a stack of nested articles, in combination, a guideway for holding-and dispensing the stack of nested articles,- a plurality oi cylindrically shaped recesses -opening into the gmdeway, an annular track in the guideway adjacent to the eylindrically shaped recesses, a ring gear in the annular track, rotatable dispensing means disposed in each cylindrically shaped re cess and actuating means connected to each rotatable dispensing means and projecting'into the annular track, said`actuating means comprising gear teeth flor engaging lthe teeth of the ring gear.

12. Ina dispenser for a stack of nested articles, in combination, ajguideway for holding and dispensing the stack of nested articles, a plurality of cylindrically shaped recesses opening into .the guideway, an annular track intercepting the cy.- lindrically shaped recesses, a ring having toothed segments movable in the annular track, and .a rotatable dispensing member in cach cylindrically ,4 .shaped recess and having means for engaging the toothed -segments o! the ring, said rotatable disposed on each 4of said ring members and adapted pensing members veach having an exterior diameter approaching the diameter of the cylindrically kshaped recess to provide the bearing surface for rotatable movement. v

, JOHN W. CARLSON. 

